I've received a lot of questions lately regarding my workout routine and gym schedule on my Formspring account. I also had the chance to test Dove Visibly Smooth deodorant. What goes together better than the gym and deodorant? Nothing! I thought I would combine the two subjects and do a "Gym Style File".

In the year since I started this blog, my life has seen quite a few mile stones: getting engaged, leaving my job, starting a new job. But to me, one of the most significant changes in my life this year has been the adoption of a regualr fitness routene. Some of you may see that as trivial, but maintaining an adequate amount of activity has been a constant battle for me since moving to Massachusetts three years ago. Growing up in Maine and New Hampshire, all I had to do was walk out the front door and I had fitness gold at my fingertips: there was a small mountain in my backyard to hike, three ski mountains all within 30 minutes, and snowmobiling trails to go running on. When we moved close to the city, all of that was gone and it became considerably more difficult to find fun and athletic things to do. And then that was made substantially more difficult when I discovered the I had arthritis in my knees last year, goodbye running in the great outdoors and hello low-impact gym time!

So, along with my Gym Style File I have a review: Up until recently I really only wore deodorant for special occasions (I know), but after buying my gym membership and working out regularly I realized that this product maybe had it's place in my beauty regimen. When Dove contacted me to try out their new Ultimate Visibly Smooth deodorant, I was curious to see how it would hold up and I admit that I was tempted by the free sample. I've used Dove products in the past, but not the deodorant, so I was curious to see how I liked it and if it really kept me "stubble free for longer", I've been searching for a deodorant that I like for awhile, so I figured I would give this a shot. It's supposed to minimize the look and feel of underarm stubble over time.

The Pros: The scent was nice, it did do it's job and kept me dry through out a week's worth of workouts, the moisturizers seemed to work and kept my skin soft.

The Cons: I didn't see a difference in "stubble" over the seven days that I used the product, after a week I became uncomfortable with using something that claimed to make my hair less noticeable and switched back to the all-natural deodorant I had used before.

In Conclusion: Smells good and kept me dry, in the end I just feel more comfortable using an all natural brand and dealing with the hassle of shaving. I'll take peace of mind over convenience, and if I wasn't such a natural products freak I would use this more often.

22
comments:

i actually really enjoyed this post! ie. i'm normally a lurker but felt compelled to comment on this one! i just thought i'd add my two cents and say that while 'other' deodorants DO tend to work better, I keep going back to natural products. now for me, the other types are for special occasions :P

I honestly can not live without the following items: 1. Tarte Smooth Operator Clay Finishing Powder. It is the only thing that keeps my oily skin at bay 2. Jojoba Oil. I put this in my hair as a mask for and hour on Sundays and then I wash it out. Fabulous. 3. Chanel Lipstick. Ok, it is the best lipstick ever. And I work in the beauty industry so that says a lot. 4. Vichy NormaDerm lotion. acne fighter+primer = awesome

I cannot live without to complete opposites: Dr Bronner's Magic Soap in rose scent, I've been using this brand forever because its all natural and makes me feel clean and fresh. ALternately I CANNOT live without Certain Dry, which is basically the equivalent of just stuffing aluminum foil under your arms to prevent sweat. I've tried dove, it was too scented and got all over my clothes. :(Ps-congrats on the workout routine, its hard to start, but once you really get it down you can't live without it

I was so excited to see you did a work-out post! Erin of CaliVintage does her cute cycling posts and it's really refreshing to see gals with great style who love being active.

I am so not a product person, but last December I decided I needed to start taking better care of my face so I stopped by a beauty shop to pick something up. I asked a gal at the shop if they had anything reasonable (around $10) and she said "I don't even shop here!" She quietly recommended I pick up Neutrogena Daily Scrub and Olay Refreshing Toner...I've been hooked ever since. No more cystic acne and my skin feels and looks great all the time. It's awesome.

I wish I could use aluminum-free deodorant, but they just don't do the job for me. I sweat a LOT so I need something that minimizes the flow and smell. I've used Dove go fresh deodorant for a year now, but this New York summer was so hot and humid that I actually ruined (yes, ruined) two t-shirts by sweating.

You definitely sold me this deodorant. I don't care if it minimizes stubble or whatever, but if it keeps me dry and smellfree, bring it on!

I totally agree with deodorant issue. I just can't buy deodorant that isn't all natural. It weirds me out and I get scared that the aluminum causes cancer. I mean aluminum? In my deodorant?? No thanks. My aunt had breast cancer for years (is a survivor!!) and always put it in my head that deodorant is bad! So when I use it I go for the aluminum free kind. Glad to see I'm not the only one! :-)

i use deodorant- no anti-perspirant, so that rules out most drugstore things. however, i've noticed that my favorite one, Liquid Crystal, has been much easier to find lately at regular drugstores. there is a new 'green tea' scent that i love so much! it doesn't seem like a scent you would wnat in your armpits, but it seems to keep me less smelly for longer than the other kinds. their lavendar scent is my 2nd fav.

and jessicurl shampoo is another thing i can't live without! no sulfates or silicones. ~joelle

Ok, so the first upper right Photo, you look really hot in your workout clothes! HAHA What made you get a gym membership and how do you deal with not being the more perfect person there? After I stopped riding horses I really need to work out, but being the 'not perfect' girl at the gym is REALLY hard for me... How do you still feel confident there?

Post a Comment

Thank you so much for your comment and for reading Orchid Grey! If you have a question, I will either respond in the comment section or in a future post, so check back! I also encourage questions on my blog's Facebook page, see the link on the sidebar to get there!